Eerie video shows inside abandoned Miller and Carter steak restaurant boat that SANK at Lakeside Shopping Centre
THIS eerie footage shows inside an abandoned Miller and Carter steak restaurant that sank into a lake at a shopping centre.
The paddle steamer-turn eatery started dipping stern-first into the water two days before Christmas while staff prepared for lunchtime opening.
They were all quickly and safely evacuated from the boat in Thurrock, Essex, but in the months that have followed the abandoned vessel has continued to sink.
An urban explorer has now walked through the partially submerged ship at the Lakeside Shopping Centre – filming everything he saw.
In the clip Urban Banana wanders around the eerie restaurant which was obviously abandoned in a hurry.
In parts, tables are set with cutlery and glasses and food sits on the benches in the kitchen.
But the tables are dusty and the food rotting.
Fridges still sit full of booze, and a bauble-covered Chritsmas tree still stands tall in one of the dining areas.
However, much of the lower deck of the restaurant sits under murky water – with chairs floating and tables mostly submerged.
The explorer, who documents his findings on YouTube, admitted it was a “dangerous” mission.
In the video he says: “I really wanted to get over to the bar but I realise I’m an idiot because it is actually quite dangerous being in here.
“What if it can go deeper and I get trapped down there?”
The paddle steamer has been at Lakeside for years. Miller and Carter bought and refurbished it to open as a restaurant in 2019.
It currently remains closed to the public and it is not clear whether the sunken restaurant will be able to recover.
A sign pinned to the barriers that seal off the gangway is titled “please excuse our appearance”.
It reads: “We are working hard to have this issue resolved and hope to have everything looking spic and span shortly.
“Thank you for your understanding.”
The restaurant sits in the shopping centre which is one of Britain’s busiest and most popular, with more than 250 shops and places to eat.
When the restaurant suddenly started sinking in December last year, families’ Christmas dinner plans were thrown into chaos.
One customer wrote online: “Looks like my family meal is cancelled!”
Another person wrote: “Going down like the Titanic.”
One man tweeted: “Horrible to see this happening to one of my favourite places to eat. Hope everyone got off OK.”
While one woman complained that now her plans for Christmas Day were ruined.
She wrote: “I have a photo suggesting the Miller and Carter paddle steamer at Lakeside, Thurrock has sunk!
“Please can you confirm so we can make other arrangements for Christmas Day!”
